The city of Melfort has an opportunity to preserve an historical site that has anchored Main Street for 99 years.
Since 1913, the original post office has stood watch over the main street. In 2003, Canada Post moved out of the old building and it has been vacant ever since.
The Mayor of Melfort, Doug Terry, says the building has gone through a couple of owners.
"And that is where the concern came to the city. The deterioration of the building and the potential loss of that historic site became a concern. So, we started exploring potential options about how we could save it."
The building is one of only three remaining examples of Romanesque Revival Architecture built in the prairie provinces by the Federal Government prior to 1914. Recently, Alberta based developer, Avatex Devcorp Inc, took ownership of the building and agreed to sell it to the city for one dollar. That was music to the ears of local historians.
"It's very exciting. I just think that is exactly the way to go for that building. It should be community owned and it should serve as a landmark for our city, "said Gailmarie Anderson, Melfort Museum Curator.
The city of Melfort will purchase the building within the next three years. In the meantime, the parties will explore possible future usage for the building and will work together to preserve and protect it from further deterioration.
